Format Break: Stereotypes Make Moderate Muslims Into Terrorists?

The first Muslim to be crowned Miss England has warned that stereotyping members of her community is leading some towards extremism.

…She said: “The attitude towards Muslims has got worse over the year. Also the Muslims’ attitude to British people has got worse.

“Even moderate Muslims are turning to terrorism to prove themselves. They think they might as well support it because they are stereotyped anyway. It will take a long time for communities to start mixing in more.

by Sir John Hawkins

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In all fairness to Ms. Kohistani, she did get elected for her looks, not her brains. But, let’s set that aside for just a moment and look at her line of reasoning.

“Even moderate Muslims are turning to terrorism to prove themselves. They think they might as well support it because they are stereotyped anyway.”

So, because they’re stereotyped as terrorists, they’re turning to terrorism and what — proving the stereotype is spot-on? Worse yet, if “moderate” Muslims are turning into terrorists, then doesn’t that mean that even “moderate” Muslims can’t be trusted?

I’m sure there are Muslims all over Britain right now going, “Thank you for the kind words, no, no, really. Thank you. But, could you move on to world peace or saving Africa or some other topic please? No, no, you did just fine, but we’ll take it from here, Ok?”

PS: If Ms. Kohistani or any other Muslim wants to do something about the perception — the growing perception I might add — that Muslims are sympathetic to terrorism, then there’s a very obvious thing that can be done. Condemn terrorists and terrorism at every opportunity. Condemn Al-Qaeda, condemn Hamas, Condemn Hezbollah. Call them what they are: despicable, evil, monstrous. When there’s a terrorist attack in Europe, Israel, Russia — it really doesn’t matter where it happens — don’t make excuses, don’t try to shift the blame — unconditionally condemn the people responsible. If a lot more Muslims were to start doing that on a regular basis, they’d find that a lot of the ill will and suspicion cast towards Muslims would start to evaporate in short order.